IAU vs. MTD
IAU (iShares Gold Trust) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price, while MTD (Mettler-Toledo International Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, IAU returned 12.31%/yr vs 11.73%/yr for MTD. At a 0.05 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
IAU vs. MTD - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IAU achieves a -2.44% return, which is significantly higher than MTD's -18.84% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with IAU having a 12.31% annualized return and MTD not far behind at 11.73%.
IAU
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- -7.39%
- YTD
- -2.44%
- 6M
- -2.22%
- 1Y
- 22.32%
- 3Y*
- 29.07%
- 5Y*
- 17.23%
- 10Y*
- 12.31%
MTD
- 1D
- -0.86%
- 1M
- 9.68%
- YTD
- -18.84%
- 6M
- -18.81%
- 1Y
- -2.07%
- 3Y*
- -4.98%
- 5Y*
- -3.12%
- 10Y*
- 11.73%
IAU vs. MTD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -2.44% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
MTD Mettler-Toledo International Inc. | -18.84% | 13.93% | 0.88% | -16.08% | -14.83% | 48.92% | 43.67% | 40.26% | -8.71% | 48.01% |
Correlation
The correlation between IAU and MTD is 0.14, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.11 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.06 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 28, 2005 | 0.05 |
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Return for Risk
IAU vs. MTD — Risk / Return Rank
IAU
MTD
IAU vs. MTD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (MTD). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| IAU | MTD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.04 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.23 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.19 | 1.00 | +0.18 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.99 | -0.15 | +1.14 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.83 | -0.42 | +3.25 |
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Drawdowns
IAU vs. MTD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IAU drawdown since its inception was -45.14%, smaller than the maximum MTD drawdown of -61.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAU and MTD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IAU | MTD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.14% | -61.43% | +16.29% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -24.40% | -31.90% | +7.50% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.40% | -36.61% | +12.21% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.40% | -43.47% | +19.07% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -24.40% | -43.47% | +19.07% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -22.03% | -33.54% | +11.51% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.97% | -13.69% | -2.28% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 8.47% | 11.48% | -3.01% |
Volatility
IAU vs. MTD - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) is 7.70%, while Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (MTD) has a volatility of 9.92%. This indicates that IAU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than MTD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IAU | MTD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.70% | 9.92% | -2.22% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 23.94% | 26.16% | -2.22% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.17% | 32.17% | -5.00% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.16% | 32.15% | -13.99% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.02% | 29.78% | -13.76% |
Dividends
IAU vs. MTD - Dividend Comparison
Neither IAU nor MTD has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
IAU and MTD have a correlation of 0.14, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
MTD has higher volatility (9.92%) compared to IAU (7.70%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IAU dropped -45.14% vs MTD's -61.43%.
IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.89 vs -0.15), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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